PVC antenna mast Vs. steel

[billybobears]

Hi!

Anyone got advice regarding the use of PVC as an antenna mast? - does the mast contribute to reception as an element (?) or if it doesn't matter.... I'd like to run up about a 20 foot PVC thin pipe and attach my exterior base-system monitoring antenna to it...advantage is the weight factor for me. Twenty feet of conduit or steel pipe is a little heavy and will required guy wires. I need the height as I live in a valley between several mountains. Thanks for any advice, folks.....(great site, by the way....)

[N_Jay]

PVC is not acceptable for antenna mast. It is not rigid enough, and does not provide a ground. If flexed it can break almost explosively sending shards flying.
When exposed to the sun it degrades over time.

But others here will sing its praises.

[billybobears]

Thanks for your input - getting some direction from the experienced is always welcomed....leaning back towards galvanized steel mast now.....

....Bill

[FLRAILMAN]

As N Jay stated, PVC is not the way to go & I seriously doubt that you would have to guy a 20' steel or aluminum mast, not that you would even want to. You haven't described the climate conditions were you live or your alternate mounting options so I'll keep this as generic as possible. As much as I have absolutely no use for Ratshack "Boombox/cellphone central" stores the internet catalog still features items of use to the communication hobbyist community.

RadioShack - mobile phones, MP3 players, laptops, and more

When the homepage comes up:
Click on: Home entertainment
Click on: Accesories
Click on: Antennas
Click on: Antenna accesories

I reccomend all of the following mounts except the "chimney mount" which has damaged many chimneys & roofs in inclement & high wind regions.

3' Tripod mount: Model: 10Y203 Cat#15-293 $34.99

Gable end mount: Model: SW-0012 Cat# 55030431 $31.99

12" Outside wall mount Model: 15-0885 Cat# 15-885 $20.99

4" Outside wall mount Model: 15-0883 Cat# 15-883 $13.99

Eave mount Model: 15-0891 Cat#15-891 $17.99

10' 16 gauge steel mast Model: 1016-10 Cat#15-298 $24.99
or
5' 16 Gauge steel mast Model: 1016-5P Cat#15-297 $14.99

Good luck & as always be very careful when installing antennas.

FLRAILMAN

[billybobears]

Thanks for your advice - regarding environments I live in Wanaque NJ which is sheltered from most heavy storms by high mountians two horizons, West and East...this is a no tornado, no "blaster" weather klnd of place. So no guy wires okay - I'll try for twenty feet of steel as a mast and hope for the best. I have Rat-shacks' eave mount with a four-inch relief for this, and will ground with 6 gauge open copper wire to a pipe in the ground. I'm mounting on the eave of my house slightly below roof level as I do not have a ladder to reach the peak, which is only twenty-4 or so feet above ground anyway.

Thanks again for your hep!

[kb2vxa]

May I suggest heavy wall aluminium EMT you can pick up at an electrical supply house? It worked great for me in exactly the type of mount you have in mind and it lasts indefinitely through anything short of a tornado. It comes in 10' lengths, use but one as just about anything will bend in that mount if you go higher without guys. Besides, another 10' won't buy you anything the least bit noticeable. Oh, I should mention the listed diameter doesn't match up to anything that makes sense so take one of the U bolts with you when you buy it.

[prcguy]

Going up another 10ft at my house makes a very noticeable improvement in reception, same for most people who have tried it.
prcguy

Originally Posted by kb2vxa

Besides, another 10' won't buy you anything the least bit noticeable.

[N_Jay]

(Cue lightening flashes and thunder)
Who dares argue with the great and powerful Warren.

Rule of thumb;
6 dB for each doubling of height when in a cluttered environment
3 dB for each doubling in height when in the clear
6 to 10 dB for getting out of the clutter and into the clear.

10 feet can be a lot and can be a little.

[engine3]

wow,,,when i raised mine up an additional 10 feet it made a HUGE difference

[Chauffeur6]

An additional 10' can make a substantial difference. Remember, it's not just the raw height that matters with antennas...how much higher than everything else around it plays a very big role in improving reception. This is why the HAAT is generally a more important number to look at than AMSL.

[billybobears]

Okay...me Dumb....


What in the workd is "HAAT" and what is "AMSL?" Please, educate me.... I would appreciate your knowledge....I appreciate all education and this site is truly a sharing of education....


Thanks again,

Bill

[N_Jay]

Google is your friend.

Don't fear the Google!

WIki works also for those that have Googlephobia.

EDIT:
Bing works, but I don't Bing. (EVER!)

[Chauffeur6]

Originally Posted by billybobears

What in the workd is "HAAT" and what is "AMSL?" Please, educate me.... I would appreciate your knowledge....I appreciate all education and this site is truly a sharing of education....

Bill,

HAAT = Height Above Average Terrain

AMSL = Above Mean Sea Level

In a nutshell, AMSL refers to the height of the antenna in relation to sea level alone. HAAT refers to the elevation of the antenna in relation to nearby surrounding terrain features such as mountains. AMSL is important, but HAAT is often a more critical factor depending on the location of the antenna, such as in a valley or other low laying area.

In simple terms: The higher up you can get your antenna the better, especially if you can get it up above nearby obstructions like the roofline, trees, nearby buildings, etc. Not always possible or practical, but something to shoot for.

[lchspanther2006]

just figured I would add a little input...

I have 2 10' sections and 1 5' section of the mast from radioshack. I have it attached to my fence with 2 4" brackets and they have held up to everything so far, including 60MPH winds in a heavy rain storm. Also, I do not have any guy wires or anything, but that choice is dependent on what you are attaching the mast to. Hope this helps a little bit.

[billybobears]

Thanks for your advice - I'm getting close to making a final decision on what I'm going to do here,,,,,,

... BIll

[MPSCS]

Originally Posted by N_Jay

PVC is not acceptable for antenna mast. It is not rigid enough, and does not provide a ground. If flexed it can break almost explosively sending shards flying.
When exposed to the sun it degrades over time.

But others here will sing its praises.

Does the same hold true on the dark gray thick walled PVC electrical conduit? I was looking at some at Home Depot and it seems really sturdy compared to the white PVC pipe.

[N_Jay]

Originally Posted by MPSCS

Does the same hold true on the dark gray thick walled PVC electrical conduit? I was looking at some at Home Depot and it seems really sturdy compared to the white PVC pipe.

I am not sure if it has a UV protectant in it, but all the rest still applies.

[gman4661]

30+ years ago, I used to use sections of steel (galvanized?) chain link fence tubing. The tubing was cheap, lightweight and the ends slip together. Does anyone use this anymore?

[K4DHR]

Originally Posted by gman4661

30+ years ago, I used to use sections of steel (galvanized?) chain link fence tubing. The tubing was cheap, lightweight and the ends slip together. Does anyone use this anymore?

I used that for my last antenna mast. Works like a charm for smaller antennas. I wouldn't use it to mount a large beam antenna but for a typical lightweight scanner or 2m/440 ham antenna, it works just fine.